If you talk about ideas that have shaped the 21st century, it would be difficult to skip feminism. Feminism has come a long way. Since the movement made its first major step in 1848 with forerunners at the Seneca falls—women and men alike—advocating for women’s rights, you will think that misogynists or anti-feminists would now be the minorities and would have already been marginalized. But alas, that is not the case.
The question now is why? Why isn’t that so? Why aren’t we all feminists yet? Or maybe the right question isn’t why. Maybe the right question is can. Can we all be feminists? Whether you are a man or woman, is it humanly possible to take up the feministic idea and believe in it?
Many people have come to talk about this. There are books and studies devoted to this topic. I, for one, had an experience that begs the question. Last year, I got into a vehement conversation with classmates and talked about science and religion. A common topic among medical students as we tend to be fascinated by topics like that. One thing led to the other and the topic of who is more superior, man or woman?—came up. The room got quiet. Not because there were ladies in it or anything, but because people were scared of how others might criticize them for their answers. Whether you pick the former or the latter, you are still in the possibility of getting hit. So I kept quiet too, not because I was scared of attacks, but because I wanted to see what they thought.
The guys waved the question, like, are you asking us this.
“God made men superior.” The argument was just me against a bunch of silence and others who thought I was being sacrilegious. But the conversation didn’t end there; they trudged on to talk about how a woman should not be able to lead men. Further on how it was so implausible that women could be presidents knowing that there are countries like that. Leadership was for men and not women. Women can only lead within themselves without men. The problem is in how vehemently they believe it. How rooted and incorrigible this belief is and how frightening it is. If you ask 100 people, “can women lead, or are women equal to men?” at least 80 will say yes. But if many people believe that women and men should be equal, why are there not so many feminists then?
Upbringing! Our upbringing has been tilted to strangle the feministic side and leave it out to die. In an average home, the female child is taught how to be a good wife and helpmate to her husband rather than how to be the better version of themselves, whether it is being a wife or not. This school of thought unconsciously registers in their subconscious. Although there is no straightforward declaration of being lesser or not as superior, it is there in those harmless talks. Men and women are growing up based on what their parents taught them, and challenging that idea stirs up sentimental outbursts.
Moreover, it is a norm; we live in a man’s world, and patriarchy is deeply rooted. When something is a norm, divergent thinking is usually costly. So to change the norm is to work hard at it. So, just like the normal medical students I argued with and others like them, some are clueless and ignorant. Although, I have to admit others aren’t. But for those who just grew up “harmlessly” thinking that they are superior, proper teaching can change the tides.
Maybe they relate the title—feminist—to something horrendous. Feminism is often associated with some stereotypes. The majority of people don’t want to call themselves feminists because the feminists they see online or around them are often those that equate their feminism with hatred for men, lesbianism, or lack of feminity. And though, all of those, as mentioned earlier, are not what feminism stands for. Sadly, it is what has been associated with it. So when you ask a woman or a man who believes in equal rights and upliftment of women if they are feminists, he often says no. And for many, they feel feminism is a threat—women taking over the world.
Nonetheless, how do we improve the public image of feminism? Is it within our power? Sadly, there is not much we can do. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do something. That doesn’t mean we can’t call out the bad eggs or those who stand by their ill-gotten belief of what females should be. We should tell stories of women from diverse cultural groups and unite them in a way that shows feminists’ goals.
It is 2022; women deserve to be heard. Break the bias; destroy the stereotypes. Only then would we see a world where men and women are truly treated as equals.
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